Tranmere then having their own opportunity moments later when Terry Gornell pushed an effort wide from a cross in by pacey left-back Zoumana Bakayogo. Craig Curran for the home side then half-volleying over the top from a Gornell lay-off before United's Ian Harte, usually deadly on free-kicks, struck one weakly straight into the Rovers defensive wall.
There was some entertainment just past the midway point in the half when assistant referee Matthew Dicicco fell to the floor after a collision with Tranmere substitute Michael Ricketts who was warming up down the sidelines. The Middlesbrough-based official able to "play on" though after a quick rest to get his wind back.
Shortly afterwards and Gareth Edds for the home side had a shot easily held by Adam Collin in the United goal, then an Ian Thomas-Moore header from a Bakayogo cross slid away wide as Rovers cranked up the pressure. Carlisle did though have a good chance to score on 37 minutes when Clayton got on the end of a loose ball from an Evan Horwood cross only to slam his 22-yard half-volley off target.
Rovers finished the half well on top though and as the clock ticked into injury time Edds knocked a header from a Paul McLaren free-kick back across the box. Peter Murphy was there to clear for the visitors but Horwood was then needed to get rid of the resultant corner as Carlisle were glad to hear the half-time whistle come from referee Phil Gibbs.
Seven minutes into the second-half and impressive Tranmere youngster Ash Taylor, up at a McLaren delivered free-kick from his centre-half spot, angled a header narrowly wide from the ball in. Daniels then called into a rare moment of action when Harte's low cross ricocheted into the path of Matty Robson, the United left-winger though finding his shot well stopped by the Rovers goalkeeper.
One of the best chances of a goal in an at times uneventful encounter came in the 64th minute for the home side. Former Carlisle-loanee John Welsh's pass being deflected into the Cumbrians box, Curran then getting to the ball before Collin only to see his toe-poked effort ping away off the underside of the crossbar, an offside Thomas-Moore then smacking the rebound into the side-netting when it looked far easier to put the ball in an empty net.
Rovers were building up a head of steam again now and moments later right-back Shaleum Logan could only shoot straight at Collin when well placed in the middle of the United box. Ian Goodison then hooking a tough volley over the top for home side before in the 80th minute Welsh dragged an effort poorly wide of the target from 22 yards out.
Despite the Tranmere pressure though, Carlisle did have two excellent chances to win the game in the closing stages, as firstly substitute Scott Dobie glanced a header inches wide of the far-post from a Horwood cross in, a beaten Daniels very happy to watch the ball disappear behind at pace in front of the visiting supporters for a Rovers goal-kick.
Then in the 87th minute, with Horwood again providing the ammunition, another United replacement, in Joe Anyinsah, first had a close-range effort well blocked by Goodison before he produced a perfect air shot on the rebound with only Daniels to beat from six yards out. That the last chance of the game for either side to break the festive stalemate at Prenton Park.